Expression of Aromatase and Estrogen Sulfotransferase in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium: Evidence for Unbalanced Estradiol Production in Endometriosis

Gernot Hudelist, G Hudelist, K Czerwenka, J Keckstein, C Haas, Cornelia Haas, A Fink-Retter, D Gschwantler-Kaulich, Daphne Gschwantler‐Kaulich, E Kubista, Christian F. Singer, C F Singer
Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2007 · vol. 14(8) , pp. 798–805 · doi:10.1177/1933719107309120 · PMID:18089598 · W2097421553
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Aromatase expression was elevated in eutopic and ectopic endometrium from endometriosis patients compared to controls, with unchanged estrogen sulfotransferase levels, indicating unbalanced local estradiol production.

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This study compared protein expression of aromatase and estrogen sulfotransferase (EST), an estradiol-inactivating enzyme, using immunohistochemistry on paired biopsies from the eutopic endometrium and corresponding ectopic endometriotic lesions from 35 patients with peritoneal or ovarian endometriosis, and on cycling endometria from 33 women without endometriosis. Aromatase was detected in endometriotic glands in 32/35 cases and was elevated relative to corresponding uterine endometrium in 25/35 cases, with a larger difference versus healthy controls (8/33 cases); EST levels were essentially unchanged. The authors interpret comparable EST alongside increased aromatase as evidence for locally unbalanced estradiol production in endometriosis. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it examines aromatase and EST expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues to support unopposed local estrogen biosynthesis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease causing pelvic pain and infertility. Impaired estrogen metabolism is thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease. While there is some information on factors involved in the synthesis of E2, information on E2-deactivating enzymes is still very limited. To elucidate the intracrinology of endometriotic tissues, the authors analyze the expression of aromatase and E2-inactivating estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) in paired biopsies obtained simultaneously from the endometrium and from endometrial lesions of each of 35 patients with peritoneal or ovarian endometriosis and in cycling endometria from 33 women without endmetriosis. Protein localization was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Aromatase expression was found in endometriotic glands in 32 of 35 cases and was elevated in comparison to corresponding uterine endometria (25 of 35 cases, P = .021, χ2 test). The difference was even more pronounced when uterine endometria from endometriosis patients were compared with that of healthy controls (8 of 33 cases, P < .001, χ2 test). The EST levels were essentially unchanged. The elevated expression of aromatase in eutopic and ectopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis in the presence of comparable EST provides further evidence for unopposed local biosynthesis of estrogens in endometriosis. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Sci. 14, 798–805 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107309120 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107309120

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Aromatase Endometriosis Estradiol Sulfotransferases Adult Aromatase Aromatase Biopsy Endometriosis Endometriosis Estradiol Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Sulfotransferases Sulfotransferases

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